In a significant development to one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most notorious corruption cases, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has obtained a High Court production order to investigate financial records connected to the defunct LifeSport program. The order, secured in early December 2025, targets 59 companies linked to 104 individuals allegedly involved in the misappropriation of $440 million between 2010 and 2015.
The investigation gained renewed momentum following a three-part investigative series by Express and CCN TV6 last November titled “LifeSport Secrets Revealed.” The breakthrough came largely through the sworn testimony of Ruth Marchan, a former Ministry of Sport insider who participated in the witness protection program. Marchan provided detailed accounts of how government officials, contractors, and criminal elements systematically drained public funds through phantom companies and illicit financial channels.
High Court Justice Mandisa S. Mohammed issued the order under Section 32 of the Proceeds of Crime Act, compelling the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs to produce comprehensive documentation including contracts, payment files, procurement records, cheque registers, and vote books from the specified period. The ministry has requested an extension to comply with the court’s directive, which initially required production within 14 days.
Corporate registry checks revealed that only 18 of the 59 companies under investigation remain active, with 14 struck off the register, two dissolved, and 25 either defunct or untraceable. The companies were connected to various prominent figures including sports personalities, business leaders, journalists, and former ministry employees.
The LifeSport scandal, which erupted in 2014 under the People’s Partnership government, led to the resignation of then-Sports Minister Anil Roberts. A subsequent audit by the Ministry of Finance’s Central Audit Committee uncovered widespread irregularities including procurement violations, overpayments, deviations from cabinet mandates, and possible criminal involvement in program supervision. Despite these findings, the file remains with the TTPS and has not yet been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for formal charges.